THE Warmer Worcestershire Network (WWN) is urging local people to get switched on to switching off for Switch It Off 2011.

The energy-saving initiative, organised by Worcestershire County Council, is due to take place from 4.30-6.30pm on Friday, September 23 as part of Warmer Worcestershire Week. Electricity consumption levels will be measured across Worcestershire by Western Power Distribution, the local electricity distribution business, to see what savings can be made.

The WWN wants as many people as possible to cut their consumption by switching appliances and lights off to see if these small changes can make a big difference to energy usage. It's also encouraging people to keep on switching off after the week has finished, so the county's energy consumption is lower all year round.

During the two hours of the last Switch Off, Worcestershire people saved the equivalent energy of 176,667 60W light bulbs being switched off for one hour. If people saved this amount of energy everyday for the year we would have held back enough CO2 to fill over 2000 hot air balloons.

The Warmer Worcestershire Network is a partnership between Worcestershire County Council, Public Health, district councils, Age UK, Act On Energy and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

For more information visit worcestershire.gov.uk/switchitoff or warmerworcestershire.com.